Spider
(Arachnid)

Spiders belong to a group of animals
called “arachnids”. Scorpions, mites,
and ticks are also part of the arachnid family.
Arachnids are creatures with two body segments,
eight legs, no wings or antennae and are not able
to chew. Many people think that spiders are insects
but they are mistaken since insects have six legs
and three main body parts. Most insects have wings.

Arachnids belong to an even larger group of animals
called “arthropods” which also include
insects and crustaceans (lobster, crabs, shrimp,
and barnacles). This is the largest group in the
animal kingdom! Approximately 80% of all animals
are from this group…that would be over a million
different species! There are more than 30 000 different
species of spiders.

All spiders are predators and many will eat other
spiders. Scientists have found spiders in
amber that dates back to about 2 million years.
Because spider’s skeletons are quite small
and fragile it is difficult to find whole fossilized
spiders.

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